IN THE SPIRIT

Denomination: United Methodist

Address: 1400 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach

Phone: (949) 673-3805

Year established: There has been a United Methodist presence in the

Newport Beach area since 1883. Christ Church by the Sea grew from that

early presence.

Service times: Sunday worship is at 10 a.m.; Sunday school classes for

children meet concurrently. An adult study class meets at 8:45 a.m.

Pastor: The Rev. George R. Crisp

Church staff: The Rev. Nya K. Taryor, director of Christian education;

Nancy Remley, office manager; Craig Davis, music director; Barbara King,

organist and Evelyn Huebner, membership coordinator

Size of congregation: 175 members

Makeup of congregation: Members come from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa,

Huntington Beach, Balboa Island, Corona del Mar, Irvine, and Santa Ana.

Ages range from 9 months to 92 years.

Child-care: Children are welcome in worship and to enjoy Crisp’s

“Children’s Moment.” Child-care is provided for young children during

Sunday school and worship.

Type of worship: The worship service follows a traditional format in

contemporary language. The service includes choral and Congregational

singing, prayer and scripture readings. The Sacrament of Holy Communion

is offered on the first Sunday of each month.

Type of sermon: Following a three-year cycle of scripture readings,

Crisp presents biblically-based messages that provide reflection and

application for modern living. His aim is for worshipers to make a

commitment of faith to Jesus Christ and to grow in Christian

discipleship.

Recent sermon: Crisp’s message for May 5 was “Shepherd Me, O God,”

based on the biblical passage John 10:22-30.

Upcoming sermon: The theme of Crisp’s message for May 19 is “Is the

Church Obsolete?” based on Revelation 21:22-22:5.

Welcome: All who attend worship are invited to wear a name tag and to

fill out an attendance registration form to help members of the church to

make contact with them later. Information about the church is available

when guests arrive. A thank you letter is sent to each visitor. A church

member calls visitors and Crisp makes a visit. Everyone is invited to

stay after worship to enjoy coffee and to socialize.

Outreach: The church supports several area ministries including SOS,

FISH-Harbor Area and the Orange County Interfaith Shelter. The

congregation has contributed to Miracle Ranch, an orphanage in Mexico,

for several years. The church has a covenant partnership with David and

Lori Persons, United Methodist missionaries serving in the Congo. Members

also support Methodist missionary work in Chile.

Children’s center: Christ Church Children’s Center operates

year-round. It provides preschool classes and an after-school,

extended-care program. The Center’s hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The phone number for the Children’s Center is (949) 673-8233. Christy

Catron is the Children’s Center Director.

Mission statement: Growing in faith and service.

Interesting note: Christ Church by the Sea is looking forward to its

Festival of Faith on June 1-3. The Rev. Kimball Boyd Coburn will be the

guest preacher for three services. Dinner on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. will be

followed by worship at 7:30 p.m. On June 2, a potluck dinner and informal

family service will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall.

The festival’s third worship service will be at 10 a.m. June 3.

-- Michele Marr